Sew Japanese in January

Who’s got their 2019 sewing plans started? There have been a lot of “themes” going round in the last week or two of December to get us all started, and I’m keen to jump onto a few of them. This one. however, will get me finally using those Japanese Sewing Books I’ve been hoarding.

I spotted the #sewjapaneseinjanuary hashtag on instagram mid way through December and I thought it might be a good way to start the new year. It’s hosted by @bloglessanna & @craftyjane_makes & runs for the month of January. I’ve got a few Japanese sewing books now and so far have really only made the trousers from the first Kana’s Standard book & the short jacket from the second book successfully. There are many, many other patterns I’d like to try, some for me and some for the girls.

I have all the Pattern Magic books, but might to use those this time round. There are plenty of others to use with patterns already available! I will have to grade up a couple of sizes. Starting with the Clean and Natural Book, I’ve always liked the bell/puff sleeve pullover top. I have some black & white gingham with a 1cm square that I thought would look fabulous in that pattern.

Clean & NaturalPuff Sleeved Top

Next up are the Kana’s Standard books. From the first one I still want to make the first top with the ruffle on the sleeve – A, the “gown” E and the cropped version of the pants B. I’ve also loved the top on the cover, and it’s all because of that ruffle, there’s nothing fanccy about the rest of it at all! I have a reversible double gauze earmarked for the gown, which I plan on using as a lightweight summer jacket. I haven’t identified fabric for the other patterns just yet.

Kana’s Standard, Book 1Jacket/Gown ERuffle sleeve top

From Kana’s Standard II, I’d love to make another version of the jacket A and I still want to make the wide pants, E. I haven’t allocated any specific fabrics yet, but I’m sure I’ll dig something up! I also love the wrap dress on the front cover, but that I will have to grade up and toile carefully.

Kana’s Standard, Book 2Wrap dressCropped, wide leg pants

The gathered blouse from She Wears the Pants has been on the list to make for Daughter No 1 for a while, but I still haven’t made it, and I’ve always wanted to make the top with Epaulettes for myself.

Then there’s a book I’d completely forgotten about until I browsed the hashtag more thoroughly, Simply Sewn by Michiyo Ito. There are a few good for me items in this book, but I’m starting with the French Sailor Top. I like the shape, and have decided to risk it in a viscose, instead of a more structured fabric like linen or cotton.

Simply Sewn

I bought myself a birthday present on Etsy that arrived on my birthday itself (I only expected it sometime in the first week of January). The book is 7 Basic Dresses & Modifications, by Aoi Koda. I’d seen it on Instagram earlier this year in a post by @sewbusylizzy and it went on my “list of books to have”. There are a few tops/blouses and a couple of dresses I really like. Daughter No1 has approved one of the shirt dresses already.

7 Dresses and modifications

The dress on the cover has been admired by all three of us, so it just might be found in each wardrobe soon!

I’d like to make this as a shirt, in a lightweight cotton it’ll be lovelyThis is so simple and I can see myself wearing it. Might just change the wide sleeve hem elastic to a narrower one though.

So far I have traced the gown/jacket, the puff sleeve top, top with sleeve ruffle and the sailor top. I graded the puff sleeve top up two sizes, and the sailor top one size. I don’t think I’ll need to toile the jacket/gown, it’s pretty much one size fits all apart from the sleeve and armhole. I’ll get to toiling asap and we’ll see how I go from there! But by the end of the month I certainly want to have made that double gauze up, it’s been stewing in the stash for too long…

So let’s see how it goes, let’s get our 2019 sewing off to a promising start, shall we?

16 thoughts on “Sew Japanese in January”

Interesting! I’ve not succumbed to the Japanese pattern book trends…apart from one on hats WHICH IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR! Seriously, I’ve been wanting to get into hat making for ages, and my new red coat demands a hat. So, impetus…

I’m going to give this a go too, except, in spite of having a load of the Japanese sewing books, I’m going to do some vintage Japanese patterns that have to be drafted. This could be very interesting. I’m keen to see your makes for inspo.

I can strongly recommend the epaulette top – it’s brilliant. I’m looking at the twist too in PM1 as a project for very soon. I’ve cut a Style Arc dress out just to get me moving again as it’s been so long!

The gingham shirt on the cover of Simply Sewn is lovely!
I’ve got a few Japanese sewing books out of my local library but never did trace any patterns. I’ll be watching your blog to see your creations, and between this post and your future updates, I’m confident I’ll have the bug strongly enough to jump in!

Happy New Year! I’ve got all of these books (and more) except Kana’s Standard 2.
The gathered blouse from She Wears The Pants is gorgeous, one of my favourite things I’ve made.
I’m hoping to make some tops this January – although I’ve been back at work two days and I’m already exhausted!

It was your gathered blouse that convinced Daughter No1 to have one for herself! She wasn’t too keen on the look in the book. I really like the Japanese asthetic, just need to be careful not to make tents! 🙂